The theatre of science; a volume of progress and achievement in the motion picture industry (1914)

0 f ^ c i c n c e 127 In the enormous roster of the Vitagraph players, one may observe an abundance of unfamiliar names; at least, to the general pubHc, but whose finished character drawings stamp them instanter as graduates of the theatre along older lines. In the VitagraphLiebler film production of "The Christian," the John Storm of Earle Williams presented an interpretation almost wholly different from the well-remembered portrayal of E. J. Morgan, yet in the first-night audience there were many long-time professionals who not only expressed a preference for the photoplayer, though a unit in the belief that the superb text of the spoken play was not "put over" concretely in the visualization; nevertheless not one of these gentlemen was familiar with Mr. Williams' stage career. Practically the same discussion was in evidence during the intermission following the presentation of "A Million Bid." This time the inquiries were confined to the two "leads," Anita Stewart and Harry Morey. The critic of the largest circulated morning newspaper insisted that he had never seen either on the stage during his more than thirty years' incumbency on New York dailies. As for Miss Stewart, she has never appeared on the stage at all, but Mr. Morey has had a long career on the boards. No one who saw him in "A Million Bid" and also in "Wild Beasts at Large" can doubt that, like so many other successful photoplayers, he has had prolonged "stock" experience. But how are we to explain the versatility of Anita Stewart, who has created so wide a range of characters? Here, indeed, is a striking illustration of genius finding expression first in the film studio. Three years ago Miss Stewart was unknown even in filmdom. Today as a screen star she has a following so large and